Mum-of-four battled cancer while worrying she would lose home
FINANCIAL STRESSES AS UNABLE TO WORK AND BILLS RACKED UP BUT CHARITY STEPPED IN TO HELP
WHEN Nicola Callis was diagnosed with breast cancer, the last thing she expected to be worried about was losing her house.
But from working all her life to spending most of her days bedbound, her bills quickly crept up and she quickly found herself under financial strain.
“At one point I thought I would end up losing my house,” she told the Mercury.
The 48-year-old, from Leicestershire, discovered a lump on the side of her breast in September 2020 and initially thought it could be related to hormonal changes she was undergoing at the time.
To be certain, she arranged a GP appointment who referred her for a hospital check-up.
“At first I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want to put them through all that and then it be nothing,” she said.
“But I knew something wasn’t right because I was feeling so tired.”
Further tests revealed she had invasive breast cancer and she would need an operation followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
“I’ve been more or less a single parent for most of my life and I didn’t want to tell the kids because I knew they’d be devastated,” she said.
“When I did, I felt like I just broke their world.”
The mother-of-four started chemotherapy treatment on New Year’s Eve.
“The first round was just horrendous - it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” she said.
Nicola suffered from severe sideeffects of chemotherapy, leaving her feeling unwell, cold and tired most of the time. “I was cold all the time and would have to sleep with a woolly hat on. I ended up having to put the heating on a lot and even though I was furloughed at the time, my bills were sky-high,” she said.
Already facing the mental and physical impact of her treatment, Nicola was now dealing with the worry of financial turmoil and had to get help from her mum and partner, Perry.
Unable to work and bedbound most of the time, Nicola applied for disability allowance but was turned down twice.
“That in itself was so stressful - I just didn’t have the energy to do it,” she said.
“I’ve worked all my life and I’ve never been ill so it was really frustrating.”
Ready to give up, Nicola decided to seek the help of a Macmillan Cancer charity worker who was able to step in.
She said: “After the second time I thought I can’t do this and would have given up if it wasn’t for Kalpna, the [Macmillan welfare benefits adviser] who took on my case.
“She took my application to a tribunal. “She fought so hard for me, she really went above and beyond.
“Not only did she fight my case at the tribunal, but she also informed me about lots of other things, like how to apply for a Macmillan grant to help with the fuel bills and how to reduce my council tax.”
Without the support, Nicola said she would not have known that financial help was available to people in her situation.
The charity also helped the mum’s six-year-old daughter, Azalea-Rose, understand her illness and what she was going through.
“They were brilliant - anyone who is going through this should know they can turn to Macmillan,”
Nicola said. “I wouldn’t know any of this stuff if it wasn’t for Macmillan.”
Today, she continues to suffer from the long-term effects of her treatment, but this year looks forward to a Christmas without the added stress of money problems.
Nicola was one of 1,228 people who were helped by the Macmillan Welfare Benefits Service in Leicestershire between June 2020 and June 2021.
Shakeel Omar, Macmillan welfare benefits team leader in Leicestershire, said: “No one who has a lifethreatening illness should have to worry about how to pay their bills or cover the costs of getting to hospital, but every day we hear from people facing these choices.
“Cancer comes with lots of unexpected costs and often a loss in income.
“Particularly for those who have never tried to navigate the benefits system before, it can feel like a maze, especially when someone is going through gruelling treatment or struggling to deal with the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis.
“We want everyone with cancer to know we’re here to help make sure they get access to all the money they’re entitled to.
“I’d urge anyone with cancer to get in touch and see how we can help.”